维多利亚州每年约3750人因服务需求过高而无法获得家庭暴力救助[1]。其中，5000名现有家庭暴力服务使用者无法获得所需服务，主要缺乏住宿援助[1]。研究显示，85%的受害者需要超过一周才能获得案例管理员协助，处于风险中的人平均等待时间达12.5天[1]，这一延误导致部分女性放弃求助并返回危险环境。
2024-25年维多利亚警方记录超过106000起家庭暴力事件，为过去五年最高[1]。根据数据，45%寻求无家可归者援助的女性和女孩将家庭暴力列为原因[1]。今年维多利亚已有9名女性和女孩被男性杀害[1]。
McAuley家庭服务机构首席执行官Jocelyn Bignold表示："在家庭暴力背景下没有什么比女性下定决心离开后被阻止而不得不回到原地更危险的了"[1]。
为了充分满足维多利亚州的家庭暴力服务需求，研究估计所需资金应从预期的3亿澳元增加到2026-27年的4.87亿澳元[1]。
Approximately 3,750 people in Victoria are unable to access family violence assistance each year due to overwhelming demand on services, according to research highlighting critical gaps in the support system.[1] The shortage is particularly acute in accommodation support, with 5,000 existing family violence service users unable to obtain the help they need.[1] Additionally, 45 percent of women and girls seeking homelessness assistance cite family violence as the reason.[1]
The crisis is intensifying as Victoria recorded more than 106,000 family violence incidents in 2024-25, the highest number in the past five years.[1] Research shows that 85 percent of victims must wait more than a week to access a case manager, with those at risk waiting an average of 12.5 days.[1] This delay forces some women back into dangerous situations and causes others to abandon their search for help altogether. Already this year, nine women and girls in Victoria have been killed by men.[1]
Experts are calling for substantially increased government investment to address the crisis. Current funding of approximately $300 million must rise to $487 million by 2026-27 to adequately meet demand.[1] According to Jocelyn Bignold, chief executive of McAuley Community Services for Women, "there is nothing more dangerous in the context of family violence than when women make the decision to leave and are prevented from doing so and forced to return."[1] Dr Joumanah El-Matrah, chief executive of Safe and Equal, emphasized that the responsibility lies with perpetrators, not victims: "Telling a victim to 'leave' shifts accountability away from the perpetrator. Leaving is often the most dangerous time for a victim."[1]